Machine for breaking pig-iron



(No Model.) 3 Sheets8heet -1.

- J. KENNEDY.

MACHINE FOR BREAKING PIG IRON.

No.543,7'71. Patented July 30, 1895.

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,(No Model.) I I v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J.S. KENNEDY. MACHINE ROE-BREAKINGPIG IEO No; 543,711. Pat ted July so, 1895.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

J. S. KENNEDY. MACHINE FOR BREAKING PIG IRON.

Patented July 30, 1895.

l wimmw UNITED STATES PATENT 'r rcn.

JOHN S. KENNEDY, OF CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR BREAKING PIG-IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,771, dated July 30,1895. Application filed January 16, 1895. Serial No. 535,136- (N0 mOdBL)To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN S. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chambersburg, in the county of Franklin and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Breaking Pig-Iron, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a novel apparatus for breaking pig-iron, and isdesigned as an improvement upon that for which Letters Patent No.520,685 were issued to me May 29, 1894.

In breaking iron in accordance with the present invention, the bed isplaced upon the table. Then a section of the sow is first detached, andthen the corresponding pigs are broken, the operation of detaching asow-section and breaking the corresponding pigs bein g repeated untilthe entire bed is broken u p.

In order to simplify the construction of the breaking mechanism andreduce the number of hammers, I mount the sow-and-pig-breaking hammersin a traveling housing, frame,

or support, which is designed to'overhang or straddle the breaking-tableand the bed 1 thereon, and to be moved longitudinally thereof, so thatsections of the bed may be successively broken. The use of thistraveling breaking mechanism results in or necessitates the employmentof, various novel features of construction which will be hereinafterfully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front face view of a portionof a breaking-ta ble and my improved mechanism ;-Fig. 2, a verticaltransverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a detailview of the springbox; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional view on the line 4 4of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a view illustrating the construction of thespreader-plates; Fig. 6, a vertical sectional view through the travelinghousing, showing the hold-down block and dogs and their actuatingcylinder and piston; Fig. 7, a rear face View of the table and thetraveling breaking mechanism, and Fig. 8 a view illustrating amodification in the manner of supporting the traveling housing.

In carrying out the present invention I arrange at one end of thecast-house a breaking-table, and employ in connection therewith ahoisting mechanism, preferably a crane, by means of which the bed israised and placed upon the table. 7 V

The table which I now employ differs somewhat from that heretoforeinvented by me, as will be seen upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2, whereinA A and B B indicate two series of uprights or posts connected by thelongitudinal beams O and D, Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 8, and by the transversespreader-plates E, of shape in cross-section, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 5.

Upon the upper ends of the posts B B is secured the longitudinal bar oranvil F, which forms a support for the free end of the pigs, Figs. 2 and8, while upon the upper ends of the posts A A is a longitudinal bar oranvil G, Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 8, which is provided with a rib to fit intothe neck on the pigs, substantially as in my prior patent.

H, Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 8, indicates a grating extending longitudinally ofthe table and arranged in an inclined position below the supporting-barsF and G, the upper inner end of the said grating being preferablysupported upon or by the longitudinal beam 0, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 7,and 8.

I indicates a traveling frame, housing, or support, which may beconsiderably varied in form without in any manner departing from myinvention, several modifications in the construction being shown in thedrawings. This housing I is supported at the front by wheels J J,arranged in pairs, to run upon the tracks K K, as in Figs. 1, 2, 4:, and7, and is also preferably supported at the rear by one or more WheelsL'running upon a track M secured to the beam D.

Instead of using four wheels at the front, two wheels J may be arrangedto run on a single track K, as in Fig. 8; and instead of using the trackM at the rear, the wheel or wheels L may be arranged to run upon theupper edge of the bar or support F, as indicated in the same figure, orany of these plansmay be combined, as found desirable.

The supporting wheels and tracks, wherever they are located, may, ifdesired, be toothed, but as this is a common expedient illustration isnot deemed necessary.

It is obvious that instead of supporting the housing or frame upon thefloor of the casthouse, it may be suspended from above, suitable girdersand tracks K for this purpose being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The mechanism forimpartiug motion to the traveling housing is also amatter capable of considerable variation, and I do not wish to restrictmyself to any special means. I have shown, merely for the pupose ofillustration, twin engines N, Figs. 1 and 2, which, by means of a gear0, secured to one of the axles, anintermediate gearoridler P,mounted inthe housing, and a spur-pinion secured to the engine shaft, impart tothe traveling housing the desired step-by-step motion.

The traveling housing I, (whatever be its form,) support, and propellingmechanism is provided with a sow-breaking hammer Q and a pig-breakinghammer R, the hammer Qbeing arranged to reciprocate in a vertical planeto one side of the table or support upon which the bed is placed, so asto break the overhanging sow from the pigs, while the hammer Rreciprocates in a vertical plane midway between the ends of the pigs, soas break the pigs into two equal parts.

Hammer Qhas a long narrow face, which is designed to strike the sowfarther to one side of the longitudinal center of the latter than theother, so as to obtain an increased leverage and insure a clean break atthe neck of the pig.

The movements of the hammer are controlled by means of a piston, (notshown,) whose rod 0. is secured to the hammer and works within acylinder 1), said cylinder being titted with a valve 0.

In order to prevent the piston within cylinder 1) from striking the endof the cylinder in case the cushioning devices should fail to act Iprovide the hammer with one or more, preferably two, rods d, whichextend up through spring-boxes e secured to the top of the housing, saidrods being provided with a transverse pin f or other suitable stop toengage a disk or washer g resting upon the top of a spring 71, as shownin Fig. 3. When the hammer descends the stop f strikes upon the washerand puts the spring under compression, thereby limiting the descent ofthe hammer.

The hammer is prevented from overcoming the force of the spring andthereby allowing the piston to strike the end of the cylinder by meansof the shoulder '11 formed on the box or cup e, Fig. 3, and serving tolimit absolutely the distance the hammer and its piston may descend byreason of the engagement of the washer or disk g with said shoulder. Thepig-hammer R will be provided with a similar mechanism for raising andlowering and for cushioning the blow.

Hammer Q operates in conjunction with an anvil or secondary table S,Figs. 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8, carried by the movable housing I, and servesnot only to detach a section of the sow 3 shocks. 1 jection on one ofthe pigs, and a flat-faced hamfrom the pigs, but also from the remainingportion of the sow. This anvil or secondary table S, which is preferablyA-shaped, is ar-' ranged to extend transversely across the un der sideof the overhanging sow, Figs. 2 and 8, and is raised and lowered bymeans of steam or other fluid acting upon a piston mounted within acylinder T in substantially the same manner as the hammers, the saidanvil being arranged to one side of hammer Q, so that when the hammerdescends the full effect of the blow is received upon that portion orsection of the sow projecting beyond the anvil.

If desired the anvil S may be provided with a flat upper face, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, to insure a firm gripping of thesow.

In order to direct the pieces of the sow onto the grating H as they arebroken off, the traveling housing is provided with an inclined shelf U,Fig. 4, which forms substantially a continuation of said grating, asshown in Figs. 2 and 8f The pig-hammer R is similar to the sow hammer,but its lower face instead of being fiat is cambered, or inclines fromthe ends toward the center, as at j, Fig. 7, so as to insure the equaldistribution of the strains and If there should happen to be a promer beemployed, the hammer on striking this projection would have a tendencyto tilt and thereby strain the frame, but by providing the hammer with acamber, as shown, its action is, to a certain extent, progressive, and

as the initial blow is at the center tipping and straining are avoided.

As the sow is preferably first detached the blow of hammer Q might tendto tip or tilt 1 the bed, and to guard against this the hous- 1 ing isprovided with a verticallymoving heavy holding block or buffer V, Figs.2, G,

7, and 8, mounted within a cylinder W, to which fluid is admitted, saidblock resting upon the bed slightly in rear of the necks formed on thepigs. icast with irregular or rounded lower faces, 1 and, after the sowis detached from them, they The pigs are frequently would have atendency to roll overif not held in position. To prevent this rolling Iprovide a series of independent dogs X, Figs. 2 and 6, which arepreferably supported or carried by the block or buffer V, said dogs eachhaving a stem 1 passing through an overhanging part of the block and astop m at the upper end of the stem.

After the sowsection is broken off the block V is or may be raisedslightly, but the dogs, whose stems pass freely through the block, restwith their own weight upon the several pigs and hold them in theirproper positions, and this, too, regardless of variations in therespective pigs, the independence of the dogs permitting them to assumerelatively different positions as circumstances may require.

The operation is as follows: The bed, comprising the sow and pigs, israised from the casting-bed and placed upon the breakingtable, with thesow overhanging, as shown, the traveling house having been run beyondthe end of the table, so as to allow the placing of the bed upon thetable. The housing is now moved to bring the hammers over the table, andthe block V is pressed down upon the bed and held thereon withconsiderable pressure. The anvil or secondary table S is I now raisedand held against the under side of the sow with pressure, the bed beingthereby clamped and held in position. Hammer Q is now operated, and asit descends it detaches a section of the sow from the pigs and from theremainder of the sow, the lines of fracture being at the point whereanvil S bears against the sow and at the neck joining the pigs and sow.There is more or less tendency of the housing to rise when the hammerdescends, but this is overcome by means of the anvil or table S whichbears against the under side of the sow. The detached sowsection fallsdown upon the inclined shelf or apron II, from which it passes to thegrating H. The block V is now raised slightly, and the pigs (say four)are each separately held in proper position upon the table by means ofthe dogs X. The hammer R now descends and breaks each pig in two and thepieces fall onto the grating. The spreader-plates E, located in linewith the posts A B, prevent the broken pigs from accumulating in frontof the posts by deflecting said pieces laterally. The block V is nowraised higher and by coming in contact with the stops m on the stems ofthe dogs X raise the latter. The anvil or secondary table S is loweredand the housing with appurtenances is moved lengthwise of the table apredetermined distance, and the operations j ust described are repeated.

I do not limit myself to the precise means for actuating the hammers,anvil, or secondary table, and the hold-down block and dogs, nor to theprecise construction of the said dogs.

I am aware of Patent No. 498,805 to Martin and James, in which there isdisclosed a stationary open frame carrying breaking mechanism anddevices for feeding the bed lengthwise through said open frame, the pigsbeing first detached from the sow and broken, while sections of the soware detached subsequently or during the breaking of the second set ofpigs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In apparatus forbreaking pig iron, the combination with a table or support on which toplace the bed; of means for coincidently detaching a section of the sowfrom the bed and from its pigs; and means for breaking the pigs fromwhich the sow section was detached.

2. In apparatus for breaking pig iron, the combination with a table orsupport on which to place the bed; of a traveling frameor housingprovided with means for coincidently detaching a section of the sow fromthe bed and from its pigs; and means for breaking the pigs from whichthe sow section was detached.

3. In apparatus for breaking pig iron, the combination with a table orsupport on which to place the bed; of a track or support extending inthe same general direction as the table; breaking mechanism overhangingthe table; and a traveling housing mounted upon the track or support andcarrying the breaking mechanism.

4. In apparatus for breaking pig iron, the combination with a breakingtable; of a traveling housing provided with a breaking mechanism,'and asecondary table or anvil.

5. In apparatus for breaking pig-iron, the combination with a stationarytable; of a traveling housing provided with breaking mechanism,and alsowith an anvil or secondary table, and with a hold-down block.

6. In apparatus for breaking pig-iron, the combination with a stationarytable; of a traveling housing provided with a breaking mechanism andalso with a shelf or apron.

7. In a breaking table, the combination with the posts A B, of theA-shaped spreader plates connecting the posts.

8. In combination with a breaking table; the hold-down block V;independent pig dogs X; and a breaking mechanism.

9-. In combination with a breaking table; the hold-down block V;independent dogs X, free to slideupon the block and provided each with astop; means for raising and lowering the block; and a breakingmechanism.

10. In apparatus for breaking pig iron, the combination with astationary table; of a travelin g housing provided with a breakingmechanism and also with ahold-down block to press the bed upon thetable; and means, also mounted upon the traveling housing, for'engagingthe lower face of the bed, whereby the said bed is clamped on bothfaces;

11. In combination with a breaking table, and its grating; a travelinghousing provided with breaking mechanism, and with an apron to form acontinuation of the grating.

12. In combination with a breaking table; a traveling housing providedwith breaking mechanism, and with a vertically-movable anvil orsecondary table.

13. In combination with a breaking table; a traveling housing providedwith two hammers, the pig hammer being located over, and the sow-hammeroutside of said table; and an anvil or secondary table carried by thehousing beneath the sow-hammer.

14. In combination with a breaking table; a traveling housing providedwith a sow-breaking hammer and also with an anvil or secondary table tosupport the sow; and a hold-down block to rest upon the bed close to thenecks of the pigs.

15. In combination with a breaking table; a traveling housing providedwith sow and pig breaking hammers means for holding the In witnesswhereof I hereunto set my hand pigs While the sow is being detached; andin the presence of two Witnesses. separate dogs for holding the pigsWhile breaking the latter. JOHN S. KENNEDY.

16. In combination with a breaking table; Witnesses: the pig-breakinghammer R having a camber HORACE A. DODGE,

on its lower face. "WALTER S. DODGE.

